For most people their 70th birthday is a time for rest and relaxation, but councillor Andy Phillips, of Chippenham, took it as a chance to challenge himself.

He walked 70 miles to raise money for the St Nicholas School Appeal for a Pool (SNAP), which aims to fund a hydrotherapy pool.

Twenty years ago Mr Phillips feared he would never walk again after he broke his neck in a fall down stairs.

“I spent six or seven weeks in hospital” he said. “In the end there was no doubt I would walk again because there was still some movement.

“I was lucky to only break a bone and not damage my spine.

“My decision to walk 70 miles for SNAP was to support young people who will never have the privilege of walking around our beautiful Wiltshire countryside.”

Mr Phillips walked 35 miles from Chippenham to Devizes and back the next day, braving pouring rain along the way.

He said: “I have given myself the name ‘Chippenham rain man’ because we had had weeks of hot weather and then it rained for these two days.

“It was quite refreshing though, and you can only get wet once.”

Mr Phillips was also walking in memory of his father, who died at the age of 70 after suffering poor health during World War Two.

“My father survived until his 70th birthday, bedridden and living off oxygen tanks,” Mr Phillips said. “But on that day he got out of bed and spent a few hours at a small family party with his grandchildren.

“He then returned to bed and died 48 hours later. I promised I would do something special if I was lucky enough to reach 70.”

Mr Phillips is still collecting sponsorship money for the challenge. To donate email andrew.phillips jap@virgin.net or drop an envelope marked to Mr Phillips at the town hall.